Revealed: The secret plans for a rebel NZ cricket league linked to ex-Black Caps

Friday, 7 November 2025

A privately-owned rebel T20 cricket competition backed by Indian money and several prominent former Black Caps could mark a major shake-up for the sport in this country.

One source close to New Zealand Cricket said: “This could be seen as a battle for control of the game”.

It’s understood the NZ20 competition proposal would be to run a franchised competition annually through the month of January - following the model of the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL).

A number of former Black Caps have been linked with the competition, including Stephen Fleming, Geoff Allott and Daniel Vettori, as well as cricket boardroom heavyweights such as prominent sports lawyer David Howman.

The company names of NZ20 Holdings Limited, NZ20 Ip Limited and NZ20 General Partner Limited have all been reserved at the Companies Office but no details have yet been added.

The senior source said the proposal had the potential to create huge rifts in the game - as well as place NZ Cricket’s major revenue streams in doubt, as they have contractual obligations to their biggest backer, broadcasters Sky TV.

Another source said Indian finance would definitely be involved. “If anything was to happen with private investment in cricket in New Zealand there would be money from India.” They described NZ20 as “100% a concept” but said it would be another month before it could be determined if it would get off the ground.

NZ Cricket learned of the plans in September and have asked consultants Deloitte to analyse four potential options for the future of 20-20 cricket in this country.

However, Stuff has been told that cricket’s Major Associations - the six major provinces - and the Players Association have been reluctant to co-operate with the consultants.

Instead, the six associations - Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury, Otago, Northern Districts and Central Districts - are believed to have thrown their weight behind the proposed breakaway competition.

The chair of Wellington Cricket David Howman, was guarded, saying that “we are battling through a few issues which need to remain reasonably confidential” but he said there was a team of people “engaged in explorations”.

Asked about the involvement of former Black Caps such as Fleming and Vettori, Howman said: “If those guys weren't involved you’d be stupid not to involve them.”

Another source said former Black Caps, including Fleming, Vettori and Allott, had for several years been advocating for developments in domestic cricket but their roles in any new competition had not been formalised.

Fleming, Vettori and Allott didn’t return calls for comment.

Auckland chairman Brendon Gibson said: “I haven’t got any comment to make… I really can’t at the moment. It’s not for me to make any comment.” Asked if Stuff was wrong, he said: “I’m not going to confirm or deny anything.”

Canterbury chair Jono Brent didn’t return a call for comment.

Stuff has obtained an email sent to Black Caps and White Ferns players from NZ Cricket chief executive Scott Weenink, entitled ‘Project Bigger Smash’, outlining the options.

In the email, Weenink said Deloitte would offer “ strategic advisory support” of an independent review on 20-20 cricket,“given its significant financial, governance and high performance implications”.

Deloitte was asked to consider four options: keeping the existing domestic ‘Super Smash’ competition; reform or privatise the Super Smash; a New Zealand involvement in Australia’s hugely successful Big Bash (while “ensuring the Super Smash remains well supported”) and then a “private league proposal” - which would include the NZ20 consortium plan.

Weenink’s email said NZC had become aware of the NZ20 plan in September and would “work with the Consortium in order to also review and assess this proposal, and hence it is one of the four scenarios Deloitte is investigating further”.

In a statement, Weenink told Stuff: “NZC can confirm it has received an unsolicited approach from a private consortium to establish a private T20 Cricket League in New Zealand.

“The NZC Board has engaged independent advisors to assess the opportunity in line with best practice - and we remain open-minded about the approach.”

Weenink’s email told the players NZ Cricket had been talking to Cricket Australia for a year about their role in an expanded men’s and women’s Big Bash.

The Big Bash is expanding next year to include a Singapore team and it’s understood NZC would like a Kiwi franchise included, and New Zealand players to be considered as domestic players when being recruited by Australian franchises - which could mean about 30 New Zealand players picking up contracts in the competition.

Aligning with the Big Bash would be easier for NZC as they could integrate it with their existing calendar and avoid contractual issues with their broadcasters and retain contractual control of the top players.

However, Stuff understands the Major Associations and the Players Association have been reluctant to work with the Deloitte review.

The source said the lack of co-operation from the Major Associations and the Players’ Association meant NZC could not “run a proper, independent, open process” and say “if this is the best option, ‘let’s look at it’.”

Asked if the Major Associations weren’t talking to Deloitte, Howman said: “There is a feeling at the moment there should be a united approach in terms of these issues and the Major Associations want to be on one page and that's the approach we’ve adopted. It’s a view we’ve all reached together…. we haven’t got into the weeds yet in relation to the process. We have to rely on working with the NZ Cricket people so we are all at the same stage.”

Asked if he thought NZ20 would signal the demise of the Super Smash or involvement in the Big Bash, he said “don’t discount anything”.

It’s understood that the Players Association have toured the country briefing groups of players on the rival proposals but for now have not engaged with Deloitte. Some players are thought to prefer involvement in the Big Bash.

Players Association boss Heath Mills said he could not comment.

The source said there were fears at NZ Cricket headquarters that a private, unsanctioned competition would put its commercial arrangements with Sky TV, and the world governing body, the ICC, at risk. Sky provides the majority of NZC’s revenue.

“If that happens, New Zealand cricket is in the poo: you can say goodbye to women’s cricket, goodbye to all the development stuff, the ‘A’ programme, a lot of the junior stuff,” they said. “So NZC is fighting the players’ association for, effectively, control of the game.”

The source said the proposed competition could also cause internal rifts at NZC, with some senior figures in favour and others against.